ST. MICHAEL PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Minutes of the Regular Meeting

August 25, 2009

In  attendance:  Father Jim King, Deacon Merle Runck, Len Grantner, Mike Gunkel, Mary Manchester, John Metz, Sandi Miller,

Joe Paris, and Al Peterson

Absent:  Evelyn Andrews, Richard Marks, Marilyn Scherer

The meeting was opened with a prayer at 6:00 p.m.

The minutes of the July 28, 2009 meeting were reviewed and approved as written.

Old Business

Parish Picnic:  Al reported that he and Rod Symons at City Market amended the bid to include 400 cookies rather than 300, which brings the total for chicken, potato salad, BBQ beans, coleslaw and cookies to $970.13.  We requested that Al have Rod include potato chips for 400 as well.  The chicken will be separated into three types – breasts, thighs and wings/legs.  Typical serving will be breast plus wing or thigh plus leg until everyone has been served.

It was discussed that there will be a Bronco’s football game on September 13th which may reduce the number of people wishing to attend the picnic.  September 6th falls on Labor Day weekend, a Bronco game is also scheduled on the 20th, and we historically have preferred not to wait until the end of the month.

-Paper products (plates, napkins) eating utensils, 55 gallon trash bags, tablecloths and condiments (salt and pepper) will be furnished.

-Deacon and Mrs. Runck have the balloons that will be filled with water prior to the picnic.

-“Giggles” the Clown has been contacted and has agreed to be at the picnic.  Mary will call to remind her of the date and time 1-2 weeks prior.

-John will contact Rolly to ask if he can take photographs of the picnic.

-Joe will provide a trailer to carry tables and chairs to the park.  Joe and John will oversee the movement of tables and chairs. (20 tables – sufficient number of chairs)

-Al and Mike will pick up the potato salad, BBQ beans, coleslaw, chips and cookies and ice.

-Rod will deliver the chicken at 11:30 a.m.  Rod requires payment at the time of delivery.  Al will acquire a statement of cost and will deliver it to the Parish Office prior to that weekend. 

-Len has contacted Bill Jackson to notify the Knights to provide beverages.  Len will call Mary if he finds that cups are not provided by the Knights. 

-On inspection, it appears that our school kitchen has sufficient number of serving utensils

-Sandi has volunteered to contact youth participants to move tables and chairs and assist with activities, if needed.

-Mike will contact Dave McConnon, Richard Wooten and Jeff Worley to see if they can work together to coordinate and oversee games and activities.

-Al, John and Mary will meet this week at Rudd Park to plan the serving format and placement of tables and chairs.  Father Jim would like to see the plan when it is complete.

Fall Workshop

The Parish Pastoral Council Fall Workshop and lunch will be held at the Canon Coffee Café on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

Pastoral Committee Reports

Parish Life -- Committee did not meet this month.

Evangelization – Mike reported that the committee discussed the value of a booth at the annual Fiddlers on the Arkansas.  All agreed that they need a consensus each year as to whether to continue.  They agreed that, even if they only reach a few people it is worthwhile.

The committee members spent time brainstorming ways to reach out to estranged Catholics and those who have questions about the Catholic faith.  A suggestion was made to come up with a list of “frequently asked questions”.  These could be posted at various places around town such as St. Michael website, local libraries, and local newspaper publications.   

Christian Formation –

▪ Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. rather than 7:00 p.m. beginning with the September 2009 meeting.

▪ Jean Blanchette requested that the Rite of Acceptance be set for October 25th.  This is a tentative date.

Elementary Religious Education:

▪ Edith and Sheila met with the teachers on August 10th to set the agenda for the upcoming school year.

▪ Teachers are assigned as follows: 

Pre-Christine Racine (returning)

K    Kim and Rodney Symons (returning)

1st  Patricia Sabatini/Janet Gunkel (new)

2nd  Sandi Miller (new)

3rd  Sheila Tarnaski/Cathy Slattery (returning)

4th  Becky and Barbra Bodie (new)

5th  Joan Coppa (returning)

▪Registration for classes will run after Masses from August 29th through September 12th.

There will be two volunteers per Mass.

▪60 Welcome letters with registration forms attached were sent out August 1st.  Only three have been returned.

▪Elementary Religious Education sent out surveys to parents in order to evaluate last year’s program. 

The surveys were to be returned by July 19th.  Only 2 surveys were returned out of the 60 sent out.

▪Home bound letters sign-up sheet was completed by the teachers from September through April.

▪Prayer services sign-up sheet was also completed.

▪Edith will order all materials for 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.  Blest are We books and Pflaum

       Magazines arrived as did 2nd grade materials.

Youth Religious Education:

▪ Father Jim announced that no one has come forth to coordinate the youth, confirmation and youth activities programs.  A notice will be placed in the bulletin.

Teachers for youth are as follows: 

6th gradeChris Davis with backup by Roseann Meyers

7th gradeRichard and Terri Wooten

8th gradeMonica Kelly

9th gradeJeff Worley

Richard Wooten has volunteered to coordinator 6th through 9th grades. 

▪With the resignation of Becky Church, there are some concerns about the youth program.  It is unknown if the two year confirmation program can be maintained. The first year (10th grade) is one of formation. A coordinator is needed for the first four or five sessions of the “invitation classes” for the first year students.  These sessions require bringing in the parents, tying in of the sponsors and basic familiarization of the confirmation program.  Father Jim has scheduled a meeting of last year’s team of teachers on Wednesday, August 26th.  The second year (11th grade) is one of reflection.  Father may return to teaching classes and, if so, would return to a Wednesday night schedule.  A coordinator will be required to oversee the program and coordinate service hours. 

▪ Sandi has volunteered to contact the confirmation students to invite them to assist in setting up and breaking down for the parish picnic on September 13th.

Communications –

John Metz reported that two articles have been submitted to The Chronicle of Catholic Life for their September issue.  One is the vacation bible school held the end of July – article and photographs.  The second is an article and photograph of the Statue of the Risen Christ. 

Anyone willing to help provide information about parish events that could be developed into articles for the Chronicle or to local publications may contact John at 275-6044 or e-mail jmetz60013@aol.com. Photos are especially noteworthy.  Rolly Kuhlmann has volunteered to take photographs.

Committee liaisons were reminded to pass on this information to their various committee members.

Administration –

The Budget Committee did not meet this month, nor will they meet in September.

The purchase of the property located on 10th Street was finalized on August 15, 2009.  Final reports for the purchase of this property as well as the purchase and installation of the statue of the Risen Christ are due in to the Diocese this week. 

Financial statements for July were reviewed by Father Jim.  Offertory collections were less than average for the month; however, overall income was higher.  A substantial portion of the property taxes and insurance expenses were paid in July and this resulted in monthly expenditures exceeding income.

Father Jim is continuing to pursue a solution with Black Hills Energy to the billing dispute regarding electric demand rates for the new church.

Father reported that the parish has received a bequest of $64,000 from the estate of Wilbur Meyer.  Father plans to place $14,000 in the General Fund (bequest) and is considering the best financial tool in which to invest the remaining $50,000.  This would be earmarked for the Chapel renovation.  Any additional that we may receive once the estate is completely settled would be placed in the Special Projects fund.

Maintenance –

Chapel:

▪Gary Cornella will attend an upcoming Maintenance Committee meeting to discuss repairs and improvements to the exterior of the rectory.

▪Sidewalk on the west side of 11th street from corner on College to the rectory driveway has been replaced.  Overall cost is $8100.  It will be considerably less because of the city’s match of 50% for sidewalk replacement

and 100% for curb and gutter replacement and 100% of the additional foot to make a 5-foot wide sidewalk now required by city code.  The additional width has required the sprinkler system to be moved back 1 foot from its present location.  Estimated cost for moving sprinklers is $900.  There will also be a landscaping cost to re-slope the lawn with sod to the sidewalk.

Church:

▪Dave Madone and Father Jim are working with Klein Construction on the punch list of items that need to be done before final payment is made.  Most items have been addressed.  Still need to resolve the problem with the high intensity lights.  Klein proposes to warranty all the high intensity fixtures for a period of two years and to replace any defective fixtures during that time.  St. Michael’s counter offer is that if ten more high intensity fixtures become defective, Klein must replace all fixtures.  The original estimate to replace all was $12,000.  It turns out that these lights are no longer being manufactured. The supplier has told Father Jim that his estimate to replace all the lights is $4500. 

▪Light bulbs in the church seem to have a shorter life span than we were originally led to believe.  They are also expensive and hard to replace.  We are considering entering into a maintenance agreement with Territory Electric to replace burned out bulbs at periodic intervals.

▪The bronze statue of the Risen Christ, which is a memorial to Mary Gindro, is now in place in the prayer garden.  Two flood lights will be installed by Territory Electric to illuminate the statue at night.  Len Grantner will look into acquiring a dedication plaque to Mary Gindro.  Father will speak with the artist to see what he recommends as to the type of plaque and where it should be placed.

▪A toxic substance was discovered leaking from a steel beam above the sanctuary near the altar.  Klein Construction is trying to determine the source and cause.

School:

▪Upper windows in gymnasium need replacement.  Quoted cost is $6100.

▪Window coverings (curtains and blinds) for Room 107 have arrived and have been installed.

▪A walk-through inspection of all plumbing fixtures was conducted by Johnny’s Plumbing and Heating.  It was determined that the porcelain fixtures are in good shape, but most of the valves and faucets need to be replaced.  Johnny’s Plumbing will provide a breakdown of costs for replacement.

▪A large maple tree on the northwest side of the school was damaged during a recent storm.  It has been removed at the cost of $350.

Miscellaneous:

▪the recently purchased property on 10th Street needs the weeds to be cut down.

▪The Vocational Education Carpentry Program at the High School offered to assist with any carpentry needs we may have.  Our cost would be for materials only.

▪Father Jim would like to put together a Special Projects list.  This would be a list of maintenance and improvement projects that are needed on the campus property and facilities.  This list would be helpful when looking for outside sources of funding.  Some items being considered for the list are:  finish replacing all the windows in the school, repair the plumbing in the school, replace the rectory driveway and install window coverings in the south classrooms of the school.  Committee members are asked to consider other projects that may be appropriate for the list.

Worship –

▪ Alice Milburn stated that the new ministry schedule has been published and is available in the gathering space. 

This schedule covers the weeks leading up to Advent.  Alice will place a notice to Eucharistic ministers in the bulletin

for at least two weeks prior to the creation of the next schedule to request that she be notified of any scheduled absences that may occur during the time frame of that schedule.

▪ Helen reported that the pool party was fairly well attended.  No quite as many as last year, but there were probably 100 to 150 in attendance.

Youth – Richard contacted Mary by telephone today and states that he is very interested in meeting the new youth coordinator if and when one is found.  He also stated he would like to coordinate a drive during the month of October to benefit the Pregnancy Center.  He will bring a proposal to the September meeting.

New Business

Proposed changes to Constitution, Article IV, Sections 4 and 5 and 6 were reviewed and approved.  The final version will be presented next month for formal acceptance.  The changes were made to include the option of a selection process of new Parish Pastoral Council members as well as the election and appointments processes.

Open Forum

Pastor’s Report

Neither Deacon Runck nor Father Jim will be available for the September meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. with a prayer. 

Next meeting will be September 22nd.  John Metz will provide prayers and refreshments.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mike Gunkel for Evelyn Andrews, Recording Secretary